[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6743350,"mediaKeyId","2097736-6c605da6b1a7d40079b08be7b9d090e8","parentId",2097736,"title","DeKalb board considers wide polling-place consolidations, seeks public input and ADA proof","audioSeconds",200,"startMs",1600000,"endMs",1800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097736-6c605da6b1a7d40079b08be7b9d090e8&start=1600&end=1800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097736-6c605da6b1a7d40079b08be7b9d090e8/thumbnail_1600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6743350/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-board-considers-wide-polling-place-consolidations-seeks-public-input-and-ADA-proof","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6743350-b6f05fe4bf8d5ec2e022c3a064a5526e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440347&Signature=Q6zhV~eUWNppzLkWndJm7VaAZ-BWLUYeVOMHYFRhzlfkGhYNXSOXgz2fvW1XxcpHQ59VaP03rbhO1AcGuDmW3DUsaDkhYg6hCW6bW1mlSHtiOCJhy9~Kg4-m9WRSf7ewV5Taho6rLQ7M~BSN7-t0CsaHU~z1RIs3R3vvBqSPzj95su5fjkc2WlMbdWcOhImtT5m0Qp3l88rjCNIBPnYZaDM09MtwtJjFMVP~p4rnPwM5CeltQVGEr7G-f9gm5xU6Jz8~WkxASRxMAI762E~xcbqJLZeH8S70etW3TowQWSEmukPapr3eqwJ3Zg4CIO02yAXniD4Rs851fBd4SgMBuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","article","DeKalb County's Board of Registration and Elections on Jan. 9 reviewed a proposal to consolidate polling places at underused or inaccessible sites and to redraw a handful of precinct boundaries.

Director Smith told the board the effort is intended to \"optimize polling locations\" and stressed that \"equity and accessibility are at the heart of this initiative,\" saying staff seeks to reassign affected voters to nearby locations \"that can accommodate them seamlessly without adding significant travel burdens.\" The director also provided county registration totals: 592,783 registered voters, 502,606 active and 9,177 inactive as of Jan. 9.

The proposal in the packet includes three categories of changes: a table of 19 precincts proposed to be combined at the polling-place level, a table of four re-combinations of already-combined precincts to bring voters closer to polling sites, and six actual precinct-boundary changes that would require board approval and subsequent action by the Board of Commissioners. Staff'member Jay Catherwood described the packet maps and said the changes respond to underutilized or facility-constrained sites and recent municipal annexations.

Several members of the public and board raised accessibility concerns. Janet Grant, identified in the meeting as an area poll manager, urged transparency and ground-level input and recommended leveraging experienced area managers during planning. \"I strongly support the consolidation of Indian Creek and Clarkston Community Center,\" Grant said, and noted the combined precinct could encompass about 4,600 registered voters. Beth Ann Froman and Liz Troop also asked for clear, detailed materials showing new locations, voter counts and annexation impacts so residents can provide meaningful feedback.

Board members pressed staff on ADA compliance at elementary schools that appear in the packet. One board member said many historic ADA problems have involved elementary-school layouts with voting held in gyms or annex buildings and asked staff to \"convince me by the time we vote next month that we don't have ADA issues with any of these elementary schools.\" Staff replied that some moves would redirect voters from elementary schools to alternative buildings inside precincts (for example, Wesley Chapel Library rather than an elementary gym) and that site assessments informed the recommendations.

On outreach, staff said a communications plan would include direct mail to impacted voters, legal notices, signage at former polling places on election day, social media and press releases, targeted emails, and deployment of a county mobile outreach unit recently approved by the Board of Commissioners. \"There is a minimum of 90 days\" required before implementation of polling-place changes, staff said, and the communications schedule will be built from that statutory window.

Board members requested a clearer table listing the new polling location addresses and all precincts served by each site, additional detail on site assessments and ADA findings, and at least one community meeting with poll managers and affected residents before the board votes. Staff committed to posting detailed maps and the communications plan online and to holding community outreach prior to a final decision.

The board did not vote on the proposal Jan. 9; members said they intend to take action next month after receiving additional facility assessments and public feedback.

DeKalb County officials said the changes aim to reduce the number of separate polling sites (the county currently draws 191 precincts) while maintaining convenient access and improving the consistency of facilities used for elections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - Board of Registration and Elections Meeting - Jan 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","DeKalb County's Board of Registration and Elections on Jan. 9 reviewed a proposal to consolidate polling places at underused or inaccessible sites and to redraw a handful of precinct boundaries.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6743349,"DeKalb board schedules probable-cause hearings for five voter challenges, directs staff to seek earlier special meeting",609,3051000,3660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097736-6c605da6b1a7d40079b08be7b9d090e8&start=3051&end=3660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097736-6c605da6b1a7d40079b08be7b9d090e8/thumbnail_3051000.jpg","/articles/6743349/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-board-schedules-probable-cause-hearings-for-five-voter-challenges-directs-staff-to-seek-earlier-special-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6743349-3533a6b6f045dfa5647201fff444687a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440347&Signature=DJ6kcYxUrMDpGWQRjGFw3incf2G7Fxx4xpT9bG~N~yvWPiVAviJfdn0M~0OcUS3l0YgPbmsyt91j~dNweO3OhpQPeux-3wcyiCaAADDjTd6oB5-HX6IsjQ7~5fUgwWzaOeusPGlOzx9GSjoIQAjpBY9myKPVyyxGfa9g5JaQzPYrSSsr5ZRFEYU6ZpzWDKZVAsky-jKig87gYBlwzpW73FA8JppMYj5SGczKHZsmP4Ij641HcrvzVi0FRdnkcNAMPGc-VkpoFeVk7MBO2arA61d7YmnDzs0I1IdOug9Iykvsrhpq2flmLLQ-0cQRa79rpM9NUK7V0o4v9d7hpHK3rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections set probable-cause hearings for five registration challenges and directed staff to attempt to schedule an earlier special-called meeting if a quorum of board members can be secured.

At the Jan. 9 meeting board staff reported five challenges to registrations filed in August and September (filed Aug. 19, Aug. 26, Sept. 3, Sept. 4 and Sept. 19). Anthony Lewis initially moved to hold hearings a week from the meeting; after scheduling concerns and discussion among members, Board member Susan Motter moved to set the hearings on the next regular board meeting, Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m., and to direct staff to attempt to arrange a specially called meeting sooner if a quorum of board members could be confirmed. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Staff told the board that under Georgia law a probable-cause hearing has different notice requirements than other proceedings and that staff will follow the applicable statutory notice and procedural rules in scheduling and giving notice of any hearings.

The challenges were described in the board packet as five separate filings submitted in late summer and early fall; staff will prepare the materials needed for the hearings, contact the parties, and post meeting notices consistent with statutory requirements.

No formal record roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes; the board approved the motion by a voice vote. Staff will notify challengers and publish the hearing schedule once details are finalized.","The board set probable-cause hearings for five registration challenges for its Feb. 13 meeting and asked staff to attempt to arrange an earlier special-called meeting if a quorum can be assembled.","actionData","errors"]

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DeKalb board considers wide polling-place consolidations, seeks public input and ADA proof

DeKalb board schedules probable-cause hearings for five voter challenges, directs staff to seek earlier special meeting